A Night In (On the deck!)

Once May hit and we were pretty sure the snow was over (#idaholife), we started working on pulling our furnishings out from storage and setting our deck up for the season. In addition to the planter boxes we recently built, we also added two of Article’s Sala white lounge chairs and their tall Grid basket in white (those leather handles–c’mon!) for easy-access blanket and pillow storage. From May until October, we live out here. We host parties and have dinner and lounge and play–it’s our main hub.

In the spirit of A Night In, our ongoing quarterly series where we invite a handful of our favorite bloggers to share their home after the sun goes down (linked at the end of the post!), we wanted to share a few pictures from the first of many nights out this season.

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As the sun is just setting, Chris lights the fire and our girls are immediately perched right in front, watching the flames while we get dinner set out. I flip on the string lights, the fire gets bigger and, it amazes me every time, how dark it suddenly got in a matter of 5 minutes.

We roast hotdogs (which takes all the patience of a three year old) and talk about every fun thing we’re going to do this summer.

During dinner, the girls keep taking turns running back to the fire to “get warm” (note: it’s 70 degrees outside) and before you know it, it looks less like getting warm and more and more like getting tired. The new chairs from Article (also available in black) have been turned around to face the fire–which is exactly what we had in mind when ordering them. They are lightweight enough for the girls to move themselves, but so sturdy and durable. I love the modern take on the classic rattan chair with all the comfort. They’re the perfect addition out here.

As the night wears on, and a few bugs start flying toward the lights–it’s both terrifying and exhilarating for the girls to watch–both of which, elicit screams, so we decide to turn in.

And by we, Chris and I mean hurry and put the girls to bed and then come back outside, grab a blanket and cuddle by the fire a little longer.

I wish we could bottle these kind of nights up. Often we get so set in our routine (trust me, bedtime is not generally AFTER the sun goes down in the summer around here) that we forget how important and fleeting and precious these nights with our little family are. It feels good to occasionally not wait until a special occasion to say, “we’re building a fire and staying up late and yes, you can have pop!” Because this night, just a regular night, will always feel like a special occasion now. More daytime photos soon!

See what our other A Night In bloggers are up to after the sun goes down, by checking out the links below:

A very special THANK YOU to Article for sponsoring this series and sending their Sala lounge chairs and Grid tall white basket our way. Article offers people a direct way to live a more adventurous and awesome life with mid-century modern and contemporary articles that are easily stoppable and shipped straight from manufacturers to customer for just $49 flat delivery fee across the U.S. and Canada. There are no showrooms, no salespeople. Just an awesome team of people there to help answer any questions you need from beginning to end.

2 years ago

2 years ago

Brittany

2 years ago

I love your deck/outside space. I also live in an area where outside furniture needs to be stored away during the winter months, so I was just wondering do you have a place at your home that you store it or do you use a storage unit? Once we get going on our outside space I’d love to invest in some quality furniture, but it’s a little difficult knowing that it can’t be out all the time and finding a place for it in the off seasons. Love your blog and podcast!

2 years ago

Kara

2 years ago

I have been wanting to hang string lights over my little deck, but I have no idea how to do it without ugly contraptions all over the place. Have you guys done a tutorial on how you hung yours – where it’s tall enough for people to walk under, gets power to multiple strings, and is spaced out enough to get that ambiance?

2 years ago

We haven’t done a tutorial, and who knows if we’re even doing it “right”. But it’s worked for the past couple years and no issues. We use fencing wire to string them to the rain gutter, and then into some high branches in the trees around our deck. For this, you just need to make sure you rain gutter is secured in a way that it can handle the tension.

2 years ago

2 years ago

What youve done with your backyard always amazes me. It’s my favourite transformation you e done so far because you took a space you literally don’t use and turned it into a room.

I love that you put in such a massive deck and I’m sure that took some deciding to finally take the leap but I’m so happy you did. It’s beyond words how cool it is.

I’m currently super jealous of your string lights. Once it’s warm enough to go outside here, it practically never gets dark. Well not unless you’re out at 1am. Maybe I’ll hang them anyway for some extra twinkle.

You guys have the best tutorials and that fireplace takes the cake. I’m currently sizing up my yard wondering where I could put one.

Last thing because I’m starting to ramble. I love seeing that Article sponsored this post. I have a sectional from them and I was so nervous buying it online. Turns out there was absolutely no reason to be nervous because we love our sectional. The best part? When the cushions get smooched like cushions do. I fluff them up for barely a second and flip them over and BAM! brand new couch.

Ashley R

2 years ago

I just read your comment and am so excited to hear you love your Article sectional! We’re planning on getting one soon, but I’ve been nervous about the fact that we can’t sit on it before making a decision. This helped a lot, thanks!

2 years ago

2 years ago

We hear you on the hesitation, Ashley and it was so awesome of Jessica to leave that comment. If we can do anything to answer questions you might have about the comfort or dimensions of any of our articles or send some complimentary fabric samples your way – just let our care team know! (service@article.com)

2 years ago

Jessica – So glad to hear that you’re loving your sectional from us and that we had the opportunity to quell your fears about investing such a huge part of your home online. This comment made me smile. If you have photos to share of your sectional, we’d absolutely love to see them over on the Instagram #ourArticle tag. :)